Honeyfund Releases 2026 Honeymoon Destinations & Wedding Trends Report

Insights From Couples Getting Married in 2025 Reveal Shifting Budgets, Emerging Destinations, and the New Way Couples Plan

CLEARWATER, Fla., Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeyfund, the leading honeymoon registry used by more than 1.5 million couples, today released its 2026 Honeymoon Destinations & Wedding Travel Trends Report, offering the most comprehensive public dataset on modern honeymoon and destination wedding planning behaviors.

Key Findings

• Hawaii remains the #1 honeymoon destination for 2026, followed by Italy (#2) and Japan (#3)—marking Japan's highest ranking ever.
• Mexico falls out of the Top 3 for the first time in eight years.
• Honeymoon budgets remain strong at $6,500 on average, with couples allocating 26% of their total wedding spend to the trip, compared to the traditional 10% guidance.
• 23% of honeymoons are domestic, reflecting a rise in "passport-free" destinations and affordable U.S. gems.
• 31% of weddings are destination weddings, with Italy, the Bahamas, and Mexico leading internationally; Florida, California, and Hawaii lead domestically.
• 1 in 4 couples use AI to assist with wedding or honeymoon planning—primarily for itineraries, budgeting, décor mockups, and travel comparisons.

Couples Are Prioritizing Experiences Over Tradition

The report highlights five macro travel themes shaping 2026 honeymoons:

• Experience-First Travel: cultural immersion, food, and "once-in-a-lifetime" experiences outrank luxury for luxury's sake.
• Domestic Gems: U.S. destinations are surging due to affordability and easier logistics.
• Adventure + Wellness: more couples seek nature, hiking, wellness retreats, and recovery-focused travel.
• Bucket-List Trips: couples are making the honeymoon their biggest trip of the decade.
• Affordable Luxury: all-inclusive resorts, off-season travel, and credit-card points make higher-end travel feel attainable.

"For 20 years, we've watched honeymoons evolve from a post-wedding tradition into a core part of how couples invest in their relationship," said Sara Margulis, CEO and co-founder of Honeyfund. "This year's data shows a clear shift: couples are choosing memorable experiences, making honeymoon decisions earlier in the planning process, and using tools like AI to design trips that feel personal, meaningful, and memorable."

Access the Full Report

The complete findings are available at https://www.honeyfund.com/content/travel-trends-report.

About Honeyfund

Founded in 2006, Honeyfund is the #1 honeymoon and cash gift registry, trusted by wedding and anniversary couples around the world. Featured on Shark Tank, BRIDES, and The Today Show, Honeyfund makes it easy to receive meaningful, fee-free gifts that fund travel, experiences, or financial freedom.

Press Contact:

Elena Behrman

press@honeyfund.com 

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SOURCE Honeyfund